Ordination of Mr. Doan Ngoc Son

The ordination of Doan Ngoc Son [Sonny] was held today at the end of the service. Pastors John and Ich officiated and presented Sonny to the congregation. After answering to the questions presented he was officially named a pastor and received his robe. Members of the Vietnamese community sang 'Amazing Grace'. After the service the congregation was invited to a reception.

a request to the church community...

Holocaust Memorial in Berlin

I have just returned from the area of the world we call Eastern Europe. I was there to continue my prayer odyssey: Pray for Peace. In what was once Nazi-occupied Poland I visited two concentration camps/extermination centers. In Auschwitz I prayed at the 'Wall of Death' where political prisoners were shot. In Birkenau, twenty times larger than Auschwitz, I stood in a gas chamber...where millions were murdered. I ask you to pray for peace, not only today and not only in church but every day and everywhere so that this cycle of hate is obliterated. Maybe not in our generation but in that of our children and grandchildren.

Prisoner Arrival Depot at Birkenau

blognote: for more info see my website pray75.blogspot.com

Community Empowerment Workshop

Today I dropped in on A Community Empowerment Workshop for the Karen Community at Central Baptist Church in Hartford where I worship. I spoke with Myra Dahgaypaw about the work needed to further involve the Karen community in the larger context of living in Connecticut and the United States. She and Thra K'Paw, a member of CBC, were meeting with adults in the morning and youth in the afternoon to discuss leadership, education beyond high school, community assessment and scholarship opportunities.

Myra Dahgaypaw

Myanmar Presentation

I gave a talk today on my short-term mission experience in Myanmar. In January/February of this year I taught at the Karen Baptist Theological Seminary in Yangon. One of the main reasons for wanting to share these pictures and narrative was because of my Karen brothers and sister here at CBC. Four years ago, two hundred or so Karen refugees arrived in Hartford from the camps in Thailand.

Pastor John Endler opened the program with a prayer for peace. The Karen have become an integral part of our church and have supported my short-term missions in many ways. I left my card with one of the attendees hoping that she will follow my odyssey. At the end of the presentation we prayed for peace and I announced the halting of my short-term missions for this year to attend to my odyssey.

taking a year off...

I have decided to take a year off of short-term mission work. My last trip was to Myanmar and had hoped to return to Cuba this coming year. I will concentrate on my Prayer Odyssey and travel in that way. Hopefully I will be able to do more short-term mission work in the future.

Youth Bell Choir

The Central Baptist Church Youth Bell Choir played during the service today. They played 'Where You There When They Crucified My Lord' for the Offertory and 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross' for the Postlude.

Karen Youth Scholarships Awarded

The First Annual Thomas J Foran Karen Youth Scholarships were awarded during service. The winners receive money to help them with their post High School studies.

Khadara Htoo, Caroline Htoo, Taw Mu Ku

The winners were:

First Winner was Khadra Htoo with $1000 for study at Capital Community College
Second Winner was Caroline Htoo with $500 for study at Manchester Community College
Third Winner was Taw Mu Ku with $200 for study at Great Path Academy

Middletown Gospel Fest

Caught the end of the First Annual Middletown Gospel Fest today on the green. Heard two groups: 'Wine and Water' and 'The Believers'. They were both great. Will make sure I get to attend the whole Fest next year!

KBTS website

Just found this website for the Karen Baptist Theological Seminary where I taught this last January and February.

blognote: great music on the site

Infant Dedication

Nguyen Thien Han Gabriella daughter of Nguyen Duc Kinh-Luan and Nguyen Le Thanh-Tuyen was dedicated this morning. She is the granddaughter of The Rev. Nguyen Duc Ich our Associate Minister. A cake was served in the Parlor after service.

Linda Carrasquillo's Retirement Celebration

Yesterday the congregation, family and friends celebrated Linda Carrasquillo's retirement at the Chowder Pot restaurant. It was a wonderful joy-filled and sad afternoon as we wished her the best in her retirement.

Spring Clean-up Day

Today we had our annual clean-up day to get ready for Easter Sunday. Lots of people showed up this year. Many of the Karen community were on hand to help out. Everything got done in an orderly, efficient and thorough way.

Palm Sunday will be celebrated in a beautiful clean church. Easter Sunday will be glorious! Thanks to everyone who showed up to work. Your efforts are to be appreciated.

Karen Celebration

Today the Karen community celebrated their 4th anniversary at Central Baptist Church!

KBTS...Yangon, Myanmar

This is the Karen Baptist Theological Seminary where I recently taught for three weeks.

KBTS views...

campus

new construction...

more pictures of the Karen Baptist Theological Seminary in Yangon, Myanmar...

KBTS Students

Special English students

MDiv1 Students

Bible exercises

Business English student

chapel in the morning...

Every morning before class there were chapel services. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, the services were in English and on Thursday and Friday in Karen.

Golden Guest Inn

front entrance

the walkway to my room in the annex

We stayed here at the Golden Guest Inn closer to downtown Yangon while teaching at the Karen Baptist Theological Seminary.

my classroom...

lesson of the day...

drinking water for the students...

Most of my classes were taught in Room #403...

getting to class in the morning...going home later on...

seminary van

Moo Lah

Moo Lah picked us up each morning from the guest house in town and delivered us to KBTS to teach. He usually took us back to the guest house but sometimes if we taught late other faculty members did the 'honors'.

backseat driver...

Myanmar Baptist Convention

Presenting greetings from
Central Baptist Church in Hartford, CT
to Rev Dr Zah Win

Visited here and met Rev Dr Zah Win, the newly elected President of the Myanmar Baptist Convention. He was a charming host and we discussed the coming Judson Celebration and the Karen population in Hartford.

Old MBC Building

New Headquarters

Judson Church

Our last Sunday in Yangon, the day of our departure, we worshipped at the Judson Church on the grounds of Yangon University [formerly Judson University]. Hope to visit here again next year and the following year during the Celebration.